THREE BEARS, AN OLD BOOK AND A GLOCKENSPIEL

Table of mementos is the centre of this family’s Christmas Eve tradition

Each year I set up a table decorated with family mementos that have special meaning to me and my two sons. At the centre of it are three bears, a Christmas story book and a glockenspiel. Each Christmas Eve, we would each take our little bear from the table, and with the boys sitting on either side of me, I would light the glockenspiel (heat from the lit candles makes the angel chimes spin) and read “Twas the night before Christmas.” Then we would blow out the candles on the glockenspiel, say goodnight and take our bears to bed with us. I started this tradition 35 years ago when my sons were little — Scott is now 38 and Michael is 37. We still do it today, even though they now live on their own. They take the bears home with them and bring them back on Christmas morning. We’re a small family, so continuing this tradition is important. Now I’m looking forward to becoming a grandmother so I can buy some new bears for my sons to start their own family table and tradition. Nancy Cameron, Newmarket